Dallas

by Catherine Lievens

  He was already getting used to the idea of having Hamilton by his side. Hamilton hadn’t had a problem with Dallas’ body, or with his wolf. He didn’t seem to have problems with the idea of shifters, or with the move he was already planning. It was almost too good to believe, and Dallas wanted to resist, just in case. He could feel himself weakening already, though. Hamilton wasn’t an easy man to resist.

  They walked side by side down the hallway, then the stairs. Dallas didn’t know the house. It was the first time he’d visited, even though he knew some of the pride members. Wes had told them where the kitchen was earlier, though, and even if he hadn’t, it wouldn’t have been hard to follow the voices. Dallas hadn’t realized almost an hour had passed while he and Hamilton talked, and when they stepped into the kitchen, it was full.

  Dallas knew not all pride members were present. There were over fifty of them, but the kitchen couldn’t hold all of them. He did a quick head-count, coming up with fifteen people, all of them busy getting lunch ready or talking. Nysys was leaning against the counter, a knife in his hand, and he was gesturing so much that Dallas was worried for the man sitting in front of him. He clearly was risking losing some body parts by staying so close to the knife-yielding Nysys.

  Dallas slowed down, but Hamilton passed by him, dragging him along as he went toward Nysys. Nysys looked up and grinned, then said something to the man he was talking to. The man turned, and he looked so happy to see Hamilton that Dallas would have been jealous if Hamilton hadn’t already told him Morin was his best friend.

  Hamilton let go of Dallas’ hand to hug Morin, and Dallas stayed back, unsure what to do. He hated that feeling. He was always in charge when it came to his job, and in his personal life, well. He hadn’t had much of that since he’d been taken by the company. It had been hard to get used to normal life again once Dallas had been freed, and he hadn’t gone home, so he’d lost most of his friends back in Brazil. He’d focused on his job to avoid thinking about what had happened to him, and it had cost him his social life. Something told him Hamilton wasn’t going to allow him to continue like that, though, and he didn’t mind.

  He’d already taken a step toward getting his life back by coming back to Gillham and accepting to work for the pack rather than for a hospital. That would slow his life down quite a bit, and finding Hamilton just now was actually great timing, since Dallas would have more time to spend with him once the infirmary was working.

  Hamilton reached for Dallas again and pulled him forward, saying, “This is Dallas. We met earlier today, and he realized I’m his mate.”

  Morin blinked at Dallas. He extended his hand, and Dallas shook it, unsure of what to say. He sucked when it came to socializing.

  “You’re not a pride member,” Morin said.

  “No. I live with the Gillham pack.”

  Morin nodded and let go of Dallas’ hand. “I see. Does that mean Hamilton will move there?”

  Dallas and Morin both looked at Hamilton, who smiled and nodded. “Yeah, after Christmas. I’m leaving with him after lunch.”

  Morin frowned. “So soon? I thought I’d have more time to spend with you.”

  Hamilton lightly punched Morin’s shoulder. “We would have had more time to talk if you hadn’t disappeared over the past year.”

  “I know. I just had a lot of things on my hands.”

  “And you thought I’d wait for you to come back.”

  Morin grinned. “You’re not my best friend for nothing.”

  “I’m actually surprised you consider me your best friend, but whatever. I mean, you didn’t even tell me about shifters.”

  “It was complicated. I didn’t want to draw you into a situation I wasn’t sure I could control.”

  Hamilton cocked his head. “There’s a story there, huh?”

  “Yes, and now that you know about shifters and that the situation I was dealing with is over, I can tell you about it.”

  Hamilton nodded. “We can talk over lunch. Don’t think I’m forgiving you easily, though.”

  “I know you’re going to make me grovel.”

  “Nah. I’ll just ask you to help me move from New York to Gillham.”

  Morin groaned. “Nysys can help, right?”

  Hamilton eyed Nysys, who was talking to Keenan, the alpha’s PA, still brandishing his knife. “I’m not sure I can trust him with my stuff. Who knows where it would end up?”

  Morin snorted. “Probably in the Sahara Desert.”

  Hamilton looked confused, and Morin gestured at both him and Dallas to sit down. “Come on, it’s a long story. Nysys was involved, after all.”

  * * * *

  Hamilton’s mind was reeling with the information Morin had given him. He’d explained about his father and what he’d done, and what Morin had had to face—a killer, finding out his father was a monster, having to deal with the aftermath of that and with the company.

  Hamilton had wondered about why Morin had sold his company even though he was still working with the new owner, but now it made sense. He hadn’t known about Morin’s father. He wouldn’t have wanted to keep the company either, if he were in Morin’s shoes.

  Hamilton leaned back in his chair and sighed. “Okay, I can see why you didn’t tell me. Doesn’t mean I wasn’t hurt by it.”

  Morin nodded. “I know, but I really couldn’t do anything different. What my father did... then there was the killer, and I spent the past year trying to solve the problems he’d created and selling the company.”

  “You still work with them.”

  “The new owner is a demon. Actually, his son lives in Gillham, with the pack. Noah. You’ll meet him soon enough.”

  “Yeah, okay, but why do you still work with the company?”

  “What else would I do? I never did anything else, not since I graduated college and went to work for my father.”

  “Take a vacation.”

  “I did. Then I came back home, and I was bored within a week.”

  Hamilton got it. He’d be bored out of his mind too if he couldn’t draw and work. The following week was going to be a challenge, but a least he’d have Dallas to distract him, and he’d brought his drawing pads with him. Maybe Dallas would pose for him. It would be a great tattoo.

  Hamilton noticed Dallas discreetly looking at his watch. He didn’t want to leave, but he was on vacation, while Dallas wasn’t. He was in Whitedell for work, and he had to get back to it, especially if Hamilton was going to be there and distract him for the next week.

  Hamilton straightened. “We should probably go. I’m sure Dallas has better things to do than sitting around listening to us reminiscing.”

  “Oh, I’m fine,” Dallas said. “We can stay a bit longer.”

  “How long is the drive to Gillham?”

  “About two and a half hours usually, but in this weather, it’ll be longer.”

  Hamilton nodded and got up. “Then we should go.”

  Dallas looked relieved, and Hamilton smiled at him. “All right. I’m ready when you are,” Dallas said.

  “It won’t take long.”

  “What are you going to do with your rental car?” Morin asked as he followed suit and got up. “I could ask someone to take it back to the airport. You landed in Cheyenne, right?”

  “Yep.”

  “It wouldn’t make sense for you to drive all the way up to Gillham then have to drive back to Cheyenne for Christmas.”

  “How am I going to get there if I don’t have the car, though?”

  Morin grinned. “Nysys can shimmer you around. You know he’d do that, and much more for his favorite tattoo artist.”

  Hamilton’s eyes went wide. “You mean he’s going to teleport me around? Can we do it now?”

  He couldn’t wait. It was the stuff of dreams, things he’d seen in movies and had never thought he’d be able to experience. There was no way he’d say no to that.

  Morin laughed. “Most people aren’t
so eager to shimmer. It usually makes everyone nervous. Especially when it’s with Nysys.”

  Hamilton waved Morin’s words away. “I’ll be fine. I can stand to be with him for the time it will take.”

  “Oh, I have no doubts of that. I’m sure he can shimmer you to the entrance right now if you want to.”

  Hamilton hesitated. He didn’t want to leave Dallas alone with Morin. Morin wouldn’t eat Dallas, and he wouldn’t say anything, but still. Dallas might be uncomfortable.

  Hamilton looked at him and was relieved to see Dallas smile. He nodded, and Hamilton nodded back, taking it as permission to abandon Dallas. He hurried to Nysys, relieved to see he was sans knife now, and patted his shoulder.

  Nysys turned from his conversation with Keenan. “Yes?”

  “Morin said you could shimmer me to the entrance.”

  Nysys chuckled. “You look like a kid on Christmas morning. Yeah, I can if you want me to.”

  Hamilton nodded a bit too enthusiastically, but he didn’t care. He was about to teleport! “Yes, please.”

  Nysys raised his hand and wiggled his fingers. “Take my hand, and I’ll show you a whole new world.”

  “Stop quoting Disney movies and beam me up, Scotty.” Hamilton grabbed the offered hand and kept his eyes wide open. The kitchen disappeared, and he found himself in the entrance. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected to feel, but he’d felt... nothing.

  The change of rooms was cool, sure, but he’d thought it would be different. More fun. He looked at Nysys, who was still grinning and holding his hand.

  “Not what you thought it would be, huh?” Nysys asked.

  Hamilton let go of his hand. “I don’t know.”

  “What did you expect, fireworks? It’s really just a way of transportation. Easier and faster than the rest, but still. Maybe I should have taken you somewhere else.”

  He grabbed Hamilton’s hand again, and the next thing Hamilton knew, he was standing on the edge of a canyon. He gasped, looking around. “Where are we?”

  The mountains around them were red, and water ran on the bottom of the canyon. It was warmer than it’d been in Wyoming, and the sight was stunning. The only things Hamilton could see around them were mountains and more mountains.

  “Grand Canyon,” Nysys replied. “Cool, huh?”

  “Wait, Grand Canyon? As in, in Arizona?”

  “Yep. You said shimmering to the mansion’s entrance was boring. I’m showing you shimmering can be lots of fun.”

  The world around Hamilton disappeared, and he was cold. There was only ice around them, and he shivered hard. “Where are we now?”

  “North Pole.”

  Hamilton shook his head and tried to hug himself, but Nysys was still holding his hand. He was a sight, in his red monkey footie pajamas, surrounded by ice. “I’m definitely going on vacation with you.”

  Nysys laughed, and they were back in the mansion’s entrance. Dallas and Morin were there, looking at them, and Morin chuckled. “Where did you take him?” he asked Nysys.

  “Here and there,” Nysys answered.

  “I’ll call you when I need a ride to the airport. Or a shimmer, whatever. What do you call it?” Hamilton asked Nysys.

  “A ride is fine.”

  Hamilton grabbed his jacket and shrugged it on. When Dallas reached for his, Hamilton snatched it away and held it up for Dallas to slide into. He saw Morin arch a brow from the corner of his eye, but he didn’t answer the silent question. He was allowed to be romantic with the man he’d spend the rest of his life with, right?

  Dallas didn’t say anything, and once they were both bundled into their coats, Hamilton turned to Morin. He pulled his best friend into his arms and whispered, “Don’t wait another year to talk to me, yeah?”

  Morin patted his back. “I know I haven’t been a good friend, but I’ll change.”

  “That’s all I’m asking for.”

  They separated. Hamilton knew it wasn’t for long, but he couldn’t help the pang of fear that Morin would disappear again. He’d had his reasons, and Hamilton understood them, but it didn’t make it easier to swallow, even though he’d promised it wouldn’t happen again.

  Dallas was waiting by the door, and he smiled when Hamilton looked at him. “Ready to go?”

  Hamilton nodded and dug the rental’s keys from his jeans pocket. “I’ll get my bag from the car.”

  Morin followed them outside. It was snowing, but it was still light, and hopefully they’d get to Gillham before it got worse. The drive was going to be long enough as it was, and Hamilton was tempted to ask Nysys to just shimmer them there. Dallas needed his car, though. Pity.

  Once he had his bag, Hamilton locked the car and handed the keys to Morin. He slapped Morin’s shoulder as he passed and headed toward Dallas, who was waiting by the car. It felt kind of symbolic, even though Hamilton mentally berated himself for thinking that. He was leaving his past—Morin—behind, and walking toward his future, however uncertain it might be.

  It was exciting and scary, and Hamilton couldn’t wait.

  * * * *

  Dallas got more nervous as they got closer to Gillham. It took them close to four hours, but finally, the private road that gave access to pack territory appeared on the left.

  Dallas swallowed. Hamilton had spent the past few hours chatting, mostly to himself, since Dallas hadn’t been great company. He’d stayed silent, humming when Hamilton really wanted an answer. Hamilton hadn’t seemed to mind, but he too seemed more nervous now.

  He was bouncing his knee and looking out the window as they passed through Gillham, and he was still filling the silence. “I guess I’ll find a shop here, huh? I saw a few for sale ones, although I’m not sure I can afford them. I’ll have to see how much rent is, I guess. The one I have in New York is Morin’s, actually, so I barely pay anything for it. I guess I should have thought about that sooner.”

  “The pack owns several buildings in town. I’m sure you can work something out with Kameron.”

  “Kameron is the boss, right?”

  “The alpha. Kameron Rhett.”

  “Is he the guy I saw on the video? The human one?”

  “Yes. He’s a wolf shifter, though.”

  “Like you?”

  “No. I’m a maned wolf, he’s just a wolf. A gray one.”

  Hamilton snorted. “Just a wolf. Sure.”

  “You know what I mean.” Dallas took the turn that would lead him to Kameron’s house. Kameron was waiting for him to get back so they could discuss what Dallas had seen in Whitedell and how he could adapt it to the pack’s infirmary. What he wasn’t waiting for was for Dallas to arrive there with his mate, but Dallas didn’t think there would be a problem.

  Kameron hadn’t given anyone problems when it came to mates, not even when the mates had worked for the Glass Research Company or professional killers. Hamilton was neither of those things. He was human, hadn’t even known about shifters until a few days before. He wasn’t a danger for the pack.

  “How do you think they’ll welcome me?” Hamilton asked.

  Dallas suppressed a smile. “You want fanfare? Fireworks?”

  “Shut up. Although if you want to sing something to me, you’re welcome to. No, I meant, do you think they’ll accept me? I’m human.”

  They hadn’t had the time to talk about the pack and its members yet, and Dallas should have known Hamilton wouldn’t be as confident as he’d appeared to be. Hamilton didn’t know the pride either, but he did know a few of its members, and no matter how crazy Nysys was, he made everything seem easier. He wouldn’t be there for Hamilton in Gillham, though, so it would be up to Dallas to make things as smooth as he could. That was going to be a challenge, because he wasn’t smooth in the least, apart from when he was working. Even then, he probably didn’t have a very good bedside manner.

  “There are a lot of members who aren’t wolves,” he finally said. “Like me.”

  H
amilton pressed his lips together. “Very funny. You might not be a gray wolf, but you’re a kind of wolf, and anyway, you’re a shifter. It’s not the same.”

  “There are human members.” Dallas had to think about it because he hadn’t yet spent much time with the pack. “I can think of at least three of them, but I’m sure there are more.”

  “Yeah? So you don’t think it’ll be a problem?”

  “No. Kameron is very tolerant, just like Dominic. The Whitedell pride alpha,” he added at the sight of Hamilton’s confused expression. “The pack wasn’t always that way. I didn’t live here when the old alpha was still in charge, but I’ve heard stories. Things are much better since Kameron took control, and he doesn’t care about species or sex. He welcomes everyone as long as they don’t hurt anyone or the pack. You won’t have problems.”

  Hamilton sniffed. “That sounds too good to be true.”

  Dallas finally parked the car in front of the alpha’s house. He was still living there for now, but Kameron was adding a wing to the building that held the infirmary so Dallas could move there. It wasn’t far from Kameron’s house, as it should be, but Dallas would have to wait a few more weeks before he could move in.

  “I know how it sounds. You might have problems with a few older members, but the younger ones will welcome you with open arms.” They’d welcomed Dallas, and he wasn’t that nice to be around. Hamilton would charm them all, and if most of them weren’t already mated, Dallas would have been jealous.

  He knew he had to get over those particular feelings, but it was hard. He wasn’t as beautiful as Simon, or as nice as Zach. He was too thin and socially awkward, and he couldn’t not think about Hamilton choosing someone else, no matter what Hamilton had said. Maybe it would change if or when they mated, but he wasn’t sure that was actually a good thing. He didn’t want that to be the reason for mating.

  He turned to look at Hamilton, who was staring at the house. “Ready?”